BUSMBA 724 : Navigating the Economic Environment

Business and Economics

2025 Quarter Four (1258) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Develops analytical and critical thinking skills in contemporary economic issues, both international and domestic, including national goals, productivity growth, money and inflation, inequality, and the genesis of financial crises. Micro-economic skills in the theory of the firm, competition, and supply and demand are also covered. Practical insights are gained into international economics and domestic issues such as the Māori economy.

Course Overview

First, the course aims to provide a basic framework to help understand how contemporary economics explains dramatic events in the national and international economy. An important part of this explanation focuses on the role of confidence, expectations and crowd psychology behaving in a different manner than would be suggested by studying individual behavior. Without some form of coordination, individual behavior can lead to inferior outcomes.
Second, to understand such aggregate level (or "macroeconomic") behavior, the course introduces students to the workings of individual firms and markets. We explain how markets do not always work perfectly, due to lack of competition, monopoly power, and externalities like pollution. In light of these "market failures", we discuss how the right kinds of public policies and institutions can be developed which focus the uncoordinated actions of individual households on good, rather than bad, overall outcomes. Understanding what constitute good policies and institutions and how they can be designed to influence economic and business behavior in desirable directions is crucial.
Third, the course examines how private firms affect social outcomes in nations and whether they should perform a "responsible" role outside of pure profit maximization. As part of this debate, we discuss the workings of the  Māori economy.
Finally, we study how globalization has impacted countries and compare different economic systems throughout the world.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Explain how business, government and the global economy interact in order to enable you to enjoy a competitive advantage as a manager or business owner (Capability 1.1, 3, 4, 7 and 8)
  2. Analyse market dynamics and the national and international economic environment to make informed managerial decisions (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  3. Evaluate and apply frameworks for analysing how economic policy is set by the public sector to influence macroeconomic phenomena (Capability 1.1, 3, 4, 6.1 and 7)
  4. Evaluate and apply ethical business decisions to assess how corporate responsibility affects the extent to which people support capitalism and their trust in the business community (Capability 1.1, 2, 4 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 20% Individual Coursework
Assignments 80% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Assignments
Assignments

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 20-30 hours of online synchronous instruction, 20-30 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 20 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Online

Attendance is required at scheduled online activities to complete components of the course.
The course will include live online events including group discussions and instruction and these will NOT be recorded.
Attendance on campus is not required for the assignments.
Where possible, study material will be available at course commencement.
This course runs to the University quarter timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

All material will be made available on Canvas apart from the prescribed textbook which students will need to purchase on their own.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Aside from the official feedback channels, I encourage and ask for direct feedback from the students throughout the course.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 11/09/2025 09:12 a.m.